De-latching mechanisms for fiber optic modules

Abstract

Fiber optic modules including a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly or module receptacle. In one embodiment, the fiber optic modules further include a spring to bias the bail-latch into an engaged position and one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals. In another embodiment the fiber optic modules further include an engaging triangle to engage an opening in a latch of the cage assembly which is responsive to the bail-latch. In yet another embodiment, the fiber optic modules include a sliding actuator having a butt surface at one end and at least one ramp at an opposite end, instead of an engaging triangle. A belly-to-belly mounting configuration is introduced for the bail-latch release fiber optic modules.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A fiber optic module comprising: 
       a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly;  
       a slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the bail-latch at one end and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end; and  
       one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals.  
     
     
       2. The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein 
       the at least one ramp or lifter of the slide actuator pushes a latch of a cage assembly to disengage the fiber optic module from the cage assembly.  
     
     
       3. The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a boss.  
     
     
       4. The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein 
       the slide-actuator further includes  
       grooves to slideably engage rails of the fiber optic module.  
     
     
       5. The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein 
       the slide-actuator further includes  
       rails to slideably engage grooves of the fiber optic module.  
     
     
       6. The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein 
       the fiber optic module is a small form factor pluggable (SFP) fiber optic module and the cage assembly is a small form factor pluggable (SFP) cage assembly.  
     
     
       7. The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein 
       the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by placing the bail-latch in a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.  
     
     
       8. The fiber optic module of  claim 1 , wherein 
       the bail-latch is coupled to the fiber optic module using a pivoting pin.  
     
     
       9. The fiber optic module of  claim 8  wherein 
       the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by causing the bail-latch to pivot around the pivot pin into a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.  
     
     
       10. The fiber optic module of  claim 1  wherein 
       the bail-latch is formed of metal.  
     
     
       11. The fiber optic module of  claim 1  wherein 
       the bail-latch is formed of plastic.  
     
     
       12. The fiber optic module of  claim 1  wherein 
       the bail-latch includes  
       a lever arm,  
       a pivoting fastener coupled to one end of the lever arm, and  
       wherein the tab of the bail latch is coupled to the lever arm.  
     
     
       13. A fiber optic module comprising: 
       one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals,  
       a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly,  
       a pivoting pin to rotationally couple the bail-latch to the fiber optic module,  
       a sliding actuator having a butt surface at one end and at least one ramp at an opposite end, and  
       the bail-latch includes  
       a tab to abut against the butt surface of the sliding actuator.  
     
     
       14. The fiber optic module of  claim 13  wherein 
       the bail-latch is activated to disengage the fiber optic module by moving the bail-latch into a horizontal position causing the tab to press against the butt surface and slide the sliding actuator in the fiber optic module.  
     
     
       15. The fiber optic module of  claim 13  wherein 
       the bail-latch further includes,  
       a pair of tabs at opposite sides each including an opening to couple to the pivoting pin.  
     
     
       16. A fiber optic module comprising: 
       a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly;  
       a spring to bias the bail-latch into an engaged position; and  
       one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals.  
     
     
       17. The fiber optic module of  claim 16 , wherein 
       the fiber optic module is a small form factor pluggable (SFP) fiber optic module and the cage assembly is a small form factor pluggable (SFP) cage assembly.  
     
     
       18. The fiber optic module of  claim 16  wherein 
       the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by placing the bail-latch in a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.  
     
     
       19. The fiber optic module of  claim 16 , wherein 
       the bail-latch is coupled to the fiber optic module using a pivoting pin.  
     
     
       20. The fiber optic module of  claim 19 , wherein 
       the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by causing the bail-latch to pivot around the pivot pin into a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.  
     
     
       21. The fiber optic module of  claim 16  further comprising: 
       a slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the bail-latch and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end.  
     
     
       22. The fiber optic module of  claim 21 , wherein 
       the at least one ramp or lifter of the slide actuator pushes a latch of a cage assembly to disengage the fiber optic module from the cage assembly.  
     
     
       23. The fiber optic module of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
       a boss.  
     
     
       24. The fiber optic module of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
       a pivoting pin to rotationally couple the bail-latch to the fiber optic module,  
       a sliding actuator having a butt surface at one end and at least one ramp at an opposite end, and  
       the bail-latch further includes  
       a tab to abut against the butt surface of the sliding actuator.  
     
     
       25. The fiber optic module of  claim 24 , wherein 
       the bail-latch is activated to disengage the fiber optic module by moving the bail-latch into a horizontal position causing the tab to press against the butt surface and slide the sliding actuator in the fiber optic module.  
     
     
       26. The fiber optic module of  claim 24 , wherein 
       the bail-latch further includes,  
       a pair of tabs at opposite sides each including an opening to couple to the pivoting pin.  
     
     
       27. The fiber optic module of  claim 16 , wherein 
       the bail-latch further includes,  
       a pair of pivot points at opposite sides each including a point to couple to the fiber optic module to be rotationally coupled thereto.  
     
     
       28. The fiber optic module of  claim 16 , wherein 
       the spring is a biasing spring, a tension spring, a torsion spring, a wind-up spring, or a coil spring to apply a bias force.  
     
     
       29. The fiber optic module of  claim 16  further comprising: 
       a boss.  
     
     
       30. The fiber optic module of  claim 16  further comprising: 
       an engaging triangle.  
     
     
       31. A fiber optic module comprising: 
       a bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module from a cage assembly;  
       a spring to bias the bail-latch into an engaged position;  
       an engaging triangle to engage an opening in a latch of the cage assembly; and  
       one or more electro-optic transducers to convert optical signals into electrical signals or electrical signals into optical signals.  
     
     
       32. The fiber optic module of  claim 31 , wherein, 
       the spring is a biasing spring, a tension spring, a torsion spring, a wind-up spring, or a coil spring to apply a bias force.  
     
     
       33. The fiber optic module of  claim 31  wherein 
       the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by placing the bail-latch in a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.  
     
     
       34. The fiber optic module of  claim 33 , wherein 
       the engaging triangle is responsive to the activation of the bail-latch.  
     
     
       35. The fiber optic module of  claim 31  wherein 
       the bail-latch is coupled to the fiber optic module using a pivoting pin.  
     
     
       36. The fiber optic module of  claim 35  wherein 
       the bail-latch is activated to disengage and withdraw the fiber optic module by causing the bail-latch to pivot around the pivoting pin into a horizontal position and pulling backward on the bail-latch.  
     
     
       37. The fiber optic module of  claim 31  wherein 
       the bail-latch includes,  
       a pair of pivot points at opposite sides each including a point to couple to the fiber optic module to be rotationally coupled thereto.  
     
     
       38. A configuration of fiber optic modules having one or more electro-optic transducers, the configuration comprising: 
       a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side;  
       a first cage coupled to the first side of the printed circuit board to receive a first fiber optic module having a first bail latch delatching mechanism;  
       a second cage coupled to the second side of the printed circuit board to receive a second fiber optic module having a second bail latch delatching mechanism, the second cage aligned in parallel to the first cage such that a first belly of the first fiber optic module is adjacent a second belly of the second fiber optic module;  
       when received in the first cage and the second cage, the first fiber optic module and the second fiber optic module having adequate spacing to allow the first bail latch delatching mechanism and the second bail latch delatching mechanism to rotate to a disengaged position;  
       wherein the first bail latch delatching mechanism includes  
       a first bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the first fiber optic module from the first cage,  
       a first pivoting pin to rotationally couple the first bail-latch to the first fiber optic module, and  
       a first slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the first bail-latch at one end and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end; and  
       wherein the second bail latch delatching mechanism includes  
       a second bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the second fiber optic module from the second cage,  
       a second pivoting pin to rotationally couple the second bail-latch to the second fiber optic module, and  
       a second slide actuator having a surface butting against a tab of the second bail-latch at one end and at least one ramp or lifter at an opposite end.  
     
     
       39. A configuration of fiber optic modules having one or more electro-optic transducers, the configuration comprising: 
       a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side;  
       a first cage coupled to the first side of the printed circuit board to receive a first fiber optic module having a first bail latch delatching mechanism;  
       a second cage coupled to the second side of the printed circuit board to receive a second fiber optic module having a second bail latch delatching mechanism, the second cage aligned in parallel to the first cage such that a first belly of the first fiber optic module is adjacent a second belly of the second fiber optic module;  
       when received in the first cage and the second cage, the first fiber optic module and the second fiber optic module having adequate spacing to allow the first bail latch delatching mechanism and the second bail latch delatching mechanism to rotate to a disengaged position;  
       wherein the first bail latch delatching mechanism includes  
       a first bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the first fiber optic module from the first cage,  
       a first pivoting pin to rotationally couple the first bail-latch to the first fiber optic module, and  
       a first spring to bias the first bail-latch into an engaged position; and  
       wherein the second bail latch delatching mechanism includes  
       a second bail-latch to disengage and withdraw the second fiber optic module from the second cage,  
       a second pivoting pin to rotationally couple the second bail-latch to the second fiber optic module, and  
       a second spring to bias the second bail-latch into an engaged position.